Improvingouremployability

The whole process should be viewed as a partnership with shared responsibility for success.

(NSF member)Although many of us choose to go to universitysimply to study a subject we enjoy and toreap the wider benefits of a positive universityexperience, we are increasingly aware of therole that higher education plays in improving ouremployability. Our report last year touched brieflyon this topic, providing suggestions for furtherdevelopment in this area for both Governmentand universities and colleges. However, inrecognition of the current economic situation inwhich we are emerging into a depressed, andtherefore more competitive, job market, we wereparticularly keen to explore what more could bedone to improve students’ work-related skills andknowledge, so that we are in the best possibleposition when seeking employment.In our discussions, we were joined by:the Association of Graduate Careers AdvisoryService (AGCAS), the professional associationfor higher education careers practitioners wholead, support and provide resources to facilitatethe delivery of careers services for HE andrelated sectorsthe National Council for Work Experience(NCWE), which works to support thedevelopment of quality and standards acrossall forms of work experience and to encouragemore employers to provide work placementsThe NSF, AGCAS and NCWE are all inagreement that students have a responsibility tobe proactive in developing employability skills andseeking advice and opportunities. Ultimately, werecognise that as students we are responsible forensuring we are employable and that we need tostart thinking about what comes after universityor college sooner rather than later, if we are todevelop the right skills and make the most of theopportunities on offer during our time in highereducation. For example, we should considerparticipating in a range of extra curricularactivities and/or working part-time while westudy or over the summer. We also need to berealistic about the opportunities that are likely tobe available to us in any particular career, givenour individual level of ability andcurrent experience.However, as forum members, we feel that thereis still more that some universities and collegescould do to ensure all students can accessadequate support for their endeavours. Webelieve that:a clear university or college-wideemployability strategyan impartial, well-informed, well-resourced,high profile careers servicehigh quality, well-structured workplacement programmesare critical factors in increasing our employability,and in this section we share our suggestions forthe ways in which universities and colleges canaddress these three priority areas, along withspecific recommendations for consideration at anational level to incentivise and monitor progresson this front.

33 National Student Forum – Annual Report

Why focus onemployability?

NSF visionfor improvingemployability:

how will we know if we aregetting it right?

If students are motivated,proactively engaged andsupported by an effectivestrategy to improveemployability, how should it feelfrom the student’s perspective?

35 National Student Forum – Annual Report

I am proud of what I have achievedI have a good understanding of mypersonal skills and strengths – andhow I can address any weaknessesI may have over timemy expectations about what I canachieve are informed by knowledgeof the graduate labour marketmy university has strong links tolocal and national employers thatit can leverage to help provideme with opportunities to learnand growMy university or collegeencouraged me to considerwhether entering into employmentor continuing with further studyis the best option for me atthe momentI know where to go for up to dateinformation about graduate jobsand training opportunitiesMy university careers serviceprovided me with impartial, well-informed advice and guidanceabout the range of potentialsectors where I could considerseeking employment – or aboutthe particular sector and/oroccupation(s) I am interested inI have developed a realisticexpectation about the current andfuture employment market forthese sectors/occupationsI have been able to speakwith someone with first-handexperience in this sector/occupation, signposted andsupported by my universityor collegeI am aware of the financialimplications of entering the worldof work at the moment (e.g.repayment of student loans)or continuing with further study(e.g. taking on additionalfinancial responsibilities)My university or college hasprovided me with opportunities towork, undertake work placementsand volunteer during my studiesand understand the transferableskills and experience I havedeveloped during my time inhigher educationMy university or collegeencouraged me to consider howI can improve my employabilityby choosing particular modules,where applicableMy university or collegeencouraged me to capture theseskills and experiences in a PersonalDevelopment Plan (PDP) or aRecord of Achievement asI progressedMy university or college offeredseminars or courses that helpedme to understand how to translatethese skills to market myselfsuccessfully to potential employers

I feel optimistic aboutmy career prospectsI am able to make an informeddecision about the next stepI feel conﬁdent that I have valuableskills and experience to offerpotential employers